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National Advice & Support

The list below details where you can get advocacy advice and support nationally:

Abuse
Carers
Childrens and Families
Commissions
Health and Disability
Housing
Immigration and Asylum
Legal and Civil Rights
Mental Health
Older People
Ombudsmen
Organisational Issues
Other - Bereavement, Drugs Release, National Debt line etc
Advocates / Advisors Only - (for professional organisations only)
Websites

Abuse

Elder Abuse Response

Information for anyone concerned about the abuse of an older person.
Tel: 080 8808 8141

NSPCC

Advice on all aspects of child protection.
Tel: 0808 800 5000

Voice UK

Information for Adults and children with learning disabilities who have been abused.
Tel: 01332 295 775

Witness

For survivors of abuse by health or social care professionals.
Tel: 0845 450 0300

Carers

Carers UK

For advice on all aspects of caring including, welfare rights, benefits and community care.
Tel: 080 8808 7777
Website: http://www.carersuk.org

Children and Families

Advisory Centre for Education

Advice on state education including special education, admissions, bullying and exclusion.
Tel: 0800 5793

Children's Legal Centre

Education Advice Line
Tel: 0845 456 6811

Gingerbread Advice Line

Advice for lone parents on benefits, contact and residence, child support, housing, divorce, solicitors and child care.
Tel: 0800 018 4318

National Youth Advocacy Service

Advice, advocacy and legal representation to young people up to the age of 25.
Tel 0800 616 101

Rathbone's Special Education Advice Line

For advice on the law and procedures around educaiton for children with special needs.
Tel: 0800 917 6790

Rights of Women

Legal advice for woman on divorce / family breakdown, contact disputes, domestic violence etc.
Te. 020 7251 6577

Voice

Advocacy for children and young people in need.
Tel: 0808 800 5792

Youthline

For young People advice on training, education, housing and local services.
Tel: 0800 096 1425

Commissions

Commission for Racial Equality

Tel: 020 7939 0000

Disability Rights Commission

Advice on rights and duties under the Disability Discrimination Act.
Tel: 08457 622 633

Equal Opportunities Commission

Advice on sex discrimmination, legal rights and options.
Tel: 0845 601 5901

Mental Health Act Commission

Tel: 0115 943 7100

Public Guardian Office

Tel: 0845 330 2900

Health and Disability

Accident Line

Can arrange free initial legal consultation for people involved in accidents through no fault of their own.
Tel: 0800 192 939

Action Aganst Medical Accidents

Medical and legal advice on complaint options and potential compensation claims.
Tel: 0845 123 2352

Alzheimer's Society

Support on dementia, benefits and community care with details of solicitors.
Tel: 0845 300 0336

Department of Health Customer Service

For enquiries about the work of the department and its policies.
Tel: 030 7210 4850

Disability Law Service

For specialist legal advice on disability issues
Tel: 020 7791 9800

Learning Disability Helpline

For all aspects of learning disability, including benefits, housing, education, employment and community care.
Tel: 0808 808 1111

National Autistic Society

For people with autistic spectrum disorder, carers, families and professionals.
Tel: 0845 070 4004

National Centre for Indpendent Living

For Advice on direct Payments
Tel: 020 7587 1663

NHS Direct

Health advice and information
Tel: 0845 46 47

Patients Association

How to make a complaint, accessing records, changing GP's etc.
Tel: 0845 608 4455
Website: http://www.patient.co.uk/

Road Peace

Advice on rights and finding a lawyer for people who suffered injury in a road crash.
Tel: 08454 500 355

Terrence Higgins Trust

Advice service for people affected by HIV / AIDS
Tel: 0845 1221 200

Housing

Advisory Service for Squatters

Advice and information on squatting and homelessness.
Tel: 0845 644 5814

Housing Rights Service

Advice and representation for people with housing problems.
Tel: 028 9024 5640

Leasehold Advisory Service

Advice on the law affecting residential long leasehold property and commonhold.
Tel: 020 7374 5380

Move UK

Helpline for tenants and people wishing to move.
Tel: 0845 606 6161

Shelter

For all aspects of housing law, including homelessness, eviction, arrears, disrepair etc.
Tel: 0800 800 4444

Travellers Advice Line

Advice and representation on travellers issues.
Tel: 0845 120 2980

Immigration & Asylum

Asylum Aid

Legal advice and assistance for refugees and asylum seekers.
Tel: 020 7247 8741

Refugee Legal Centre

Legal advice and representation for refugees and asylum seekers.
Tel: 020 7780 3220

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group

Advice on all nationality and immigration issues for gay men and lesbians.
Tel: 020 7620 6010

Legal and Civil Rights

Citizens Advice Direct

Information and advice service.
Tel: 0870 290 3000

Community Legal Service Direct

For advice about benefits, tax credits, housing, employment, education or debt problems.
Tel: 0845 345 4345

Liberty Advice Line

Human rights legal advice.
Tel: 0845 123 2307
Website: http://www.yourrights.org.uk/

Mental Health

MDF - The Bi Polar Organisation

Legal advice line for people affected by depression.
Tel: 08456 340 540

MIND

Information for users of mental health services, carers and professionals.
Tel: 0845 766 0163

MIND Public Advice Line

Legal advice line for the public.
Tel: 0208 519 2122

Rethink

Benefits, community care and Mental Health Act advice.
Tel 020 8974 6814

Older People

Age Concern

Information on community care, money, housing, health and consumer affairs.
Tel: 0800 009 966

Citizens Advice Bureau

Maidenhead CAB provides a service of information, advice, assistance, referral, advocacy and representation at specified formal proceedings.
Website: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

Care Choices

Assistance in finding appropriate care, including residential care homes.
Tel: 0800 389 2077

Counsel and Care

Advice on benefits, care homes etc.
Tel: 0845 300 7585

Help the Aged - Care Fees Advice service

Advice on meeting care costs, local authority procedures, legal and tax issues, etc.
Tel: 0500 767 476

Relatives and residents Association

Advice for older people living in nursing and residential cares homes.
Tel: 020 7359 8136

Ombudsmen

Housing ombudsman

Tel: 020 7836 3630

Local Governement Ombudsman

Tel: 0845 602 1983

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Advice Line

Tel: 0845 015 4033

Organisational Issues

Charities Commission

Regulator and registrar for charities in England and Wales.
Tel: 0845 300 0218

NCVO help desk

Information and support for voluntary organsations.
Tel: 0800 2798 798

Public Concerns at Work

Legal advice to people concerned about wrong doing at work but who are not sure whether or how to raise the concern.
Tel: 020 7404 6609

Other

Cruse bereavement Care

For advice related to bereavement, including estates, debts and funeral arrangements.
Tel: 0870 167 1677

Drugs Release

Advice on drug related issues, including health, welfare and legal matters with referral to lawyers.
Tel: 0845 450 0215

Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

Advice and support for the LGBT community.
Tel: 020 7837 7324

National Debt Line

Advice and support for people with debts.
Tel: 0808 808 4000

Partners of Prisoners

Casework support, welfare rights, debt counselling, advice on accommodation, etc.
Tel: 0161 702 1000

Advocates / Advisors Only (for use by Professional organisation only)

Child poverty action group

For general advice about welfare benefits and tax credits Tel 020 7833 4627
For welfare benefits and specialist support to agencies with CLS quality mark or contract. Tel 020 7278 2100 or 020 7247 8935